This is a tough one. Vontae Davis plays faster and looser. But, he makes more glaring errors, and much more often.
Sean Smith plays safer and more sound from a coverage standpoint, makes fewer mistakes but also makes fewer big plays.
Will Vontae Davis be able to stop making all those glaring errors while still playing fast and loose? Will Sean Smith develop the comfort level with the speed of the game to start making more big plays?
IMO, the answers are yes, and yes. But to what extent? I have to point to what these players were back in college, because a good understanding of where they come from is needed to know how far they can go.
Sean Smith was a BIG PLAY guy in college. More so than Vontae Davis. He had 9 interceptions in his only two years playing cornerback...ever...prior to this season. Remember that ridiculous one-hander against the Saints in preseason? That's what he has in him, when he gets a little more comfortable with the speed of the game.
Vontae on the other hand was a guy that would give up the big play and have these glaring mental errors, but also make big plays tackling and with 6 picks in his final 2 seasons.
It's funny but right now Vontae is known as the gambler, the guy that will make huge plays but also make more mistakes. Sean Smith is known as the more solid guy that can't make big plays. I see that reversing. I think as Vontae gets more mature he'll get more disciplined, and his number of big plays will sort of moderate a little, while Sean Smith's number of big plays will climb as he gets more comfortable with the speed of the game. But, because of his physical limitations, he also could give up some big plays.
As for who will be better...you know, it's cliche but people keep talking about it like Sam Madison and Pat Surtain and I think that's a good comparison. I can't tell you which of those two was better.
